Brand Name Determination SEL Equip W912EF22R0002 Redacted.pdf

Control No. 21-0072

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION

FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) Equipment

1. CONTRACTING AGENCY: Walla Walla District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Contracting Division, 201 North Third Avenue, Walla Walla, WA 99362

2. DESCRIPTION OF ACTION: The Lower Monumental Navigation Lock Power and Controls Upgrade requirement will replace the existing navigation lock electrical power system, associated controls, and provide a new modern HMI screen depicting breaker position at Lower Monumental Dam in Washingotn State. The project includes installation of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL) protective relays, watt hour meters, and network switches for transformers, bus, and switchgear as part of the work. These brand name components comprise only a portion of the acquisition. Accordingly, this justification and approval is limited to these SEL components only.

3. DESCRIPTION OF SUPPLIES/SERVICES: As part of the procurement of the navigation lock power and controls upgrade, new brand name protective relays, watt hour meters, and network switches must be utilized. This is a justification for brand name components that will be purchased by the contractor who receives the construction contract. The portion of the acquisition requiring brand name products applies to the SEL equipment listed below. Use of this equipment is essential to the Government’s requirements, thereby precluding consideration of products manufactured by another company as they would not meet the Government’s requirements.

MFR PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION

EST.

UNIT

PRICE

QTY

TOTAL

COST

SEL 0735LX20944GFXDXXX16201XX SEL 735 Revenue Meter with 5-inch touchscreen option if available

SEL 2242S1X0 SEL 2242

Chassis/Backplane

SEL 3350#D966 SEL 3350 Automation Controller

SEL 224311X0 SEL 2243 Power Coupler 3

SEL 22442424X0 SEL 2244-2 DI Module 6

SEL 22443131X0 SEL 2244-3 DO Module 4

SEL 07873EE1ACA2A7685A630 SEL 787-3E with 5 inch touchscreen

SEL 3555#KCF4 SEL 3555 RTAC with HMI Runtime License; 8GB, 256GB SSD, 5 Expansion Slots 1 PCI, 2 PCIe-x1, 2PCIe-x4, Cards 2 RJ45 Ethernet Ports, DVI-D, DVI-

I and Display Port Video Ports

SEL 252301313A0A0XX SEL-2523 Annunciator Panel

SEL 3401#0201 Digital IRIG-B Clock for S- Boards

SEL 2730M0ARCX1111AAAAX0 SEL-2730M Managed 24- Port Ethernet Switch

SEL Equipment Total Cost:

4. AUTHORITY CITED: FAR 13.106-1(b), Soliciting from a single source

For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g. urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name or industrial mobilization).

5. REASON FOR AUTHORITY CITED:

a. Background: The equipment requested will be used for replacing end-of-life components at Lower Monumental Lock and Dam for the LMA navigation lock power and controls upgrade project for Walla Walla District. The parts listed above are required to fulfill control, relaying protection, communications, and indication of the system.

b. Justification: SEL is an industry leader in power system protection, technology, service and value. Due to the reputation, reliability and outstanding service record of SEL, Lower Monumental has integrated SEL protective relays throughout the powerhouse. The equipment offered by SEL integrates sequential events recorder (SER), protective relay, and annunciation systems components. Currently, these components are three stand-alone systems produced by different manufactures. By integrating the systems under one equipment manufacturer, the Government will realize substantial labor and cost savings. An integrated system will also simplify the tasks of adding new annunciation points and monitoring navigation lock substations alarms status and will provide for future upgrade options such as the ability to add voltage and current trends (supplied from the relays) to the Axion database. Use of the SEL equipment will reduce the training needs of Government personnel as SEL uses common protocols, naming conventions and design methodologies and logic across their equipment. SEL has a proven history of supporting old products long after their typical life cycle, meaning this system will likely be usable and replacement parts available for decades to come.

c. Impact: With many of the protective relays in the powerhouse being SEL, maintenance practices have become more efficient due to redundancy. Reliability of the system as a whole has increased due to more effective maintenance practices. The proposed SEL devices have similar maintenance requirements as existing SEL protective relays and would require less time to institute and maintain. Utilizing a different vendor would result in increased ongoing maintenance costs. The design developed for this project would also require modification and updating resulting in significant additional cost and delay to the project. Use of a different equipment brand would increase compatibility issues and require additional troubleshooting leading to unnecessary risk to equipment operation and maintenance.

Substitution of a different brand component for SEL components would increase the initial and recurring costs of spare parts inventory and software licenses.

All SEL software used to develop and program SEL devices is free or low one-time cost (non-recurring). Utilizing a different vendor would not allow the project to be able to take advantage of existing SEL software already used for SEL devices currently onsite.

All NWW projects use SEL devices to significant extent.

Network integration of SEL devices has been done at other NWW projects, and this project was intended to follow a similar system development design.

SEL devices are currently used throughout the powerhouse and at other NWW projects. Some SEL devices used for this contract may be interchangeable as spare parts for other electrical equipment.

d. Alternatives:

As an alternative, the Government could not purchase the SEL products and leave the current end of life components in place. This alternative is not feasible because the Government needs to ensure the availability of a working and usable sequence of SEL products at NWW projects.

The Government could purchase a different product. This alternative is not in the best interest of the Government. The proposed SEL brand equipment would result in increased efficiency and and a resulting reduction of costs to the Government associated with ongoing maintenance while reducing compatibility issues and unnecessary risk to Government equipment. A different different brand would hamper efficiency and increase costs to the Government associated with maintaining this system and create unnecessary compatibility issues and create unacceptable risks to Government equipment.

6. EFFORTS TO OBTAIN COMPETITION:

There are multiple suppliers of the SEL equipment. This J&A shall be posted with the solicitation. Requiring this brand name is unlikely to limit competition among proposals. It will be possible for a contractor to obtain competitive pricing from multiple sources. The cost of the SEL equipment is small in comparison to the total estimated cost of construction.

7. FAIR AND REASONABLE COST DETERMINATION:

8. ACTIONS TO INCREASE COMPETITION:

All sources responding that can provide name brand items will be considered.

9. MARKET RESEARCH:

Under the authority cited in FAR 13.106-1(b), I have determined that the particular brand name, or feature is essential to the Government’s requirements and market research indicates that other companies’ similar products, or products lacking the particular feature, do not meet or cannot be modificed to meet the agency’s need. SEL is the only compatible equipment at this time. There are multiple sources a contractor can utilize to obtain the SEL equipment.

10. INTERESTED SOURCES:

One vendor that is an authorized distributor has expressed an interest and provided competitive pricing.

11. CERTIFICATION:

I certify that the supporting data under my cognizance which are included in the justification are accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

RECOMMENDED BY:

NAME: Viet Le TITLE: Electrical Engineer ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

PREPARED BY:

NAME: Charlene Duncan TITLE: Contract Specialist ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

12. DETERMINATION:

I hereby determine the above-stated circumstances of this contract action deem that only one brand is available to meet the Government’s need.

APPROVED BY:

NAME: Jani Long TITLE: Contracting Officer ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE

13. DETERMINATION:

In accordance with the requirements of UAI 5101.602-2-90, I have reviewed the J&A and determined it is legally sufficient.

APPROVED BY:

NAME: Theresa Hampson TITLE: Deputy District Counsel